Prophet Remarks Row: No Protest Call By Jama Masjid, They Were Outsiders, Says Shahi Imam

Pic courtesy AFP

New Delhi: Hundreds of people protested at Jama Masjid after the Friday prayers, demanding the arrest of Nupur Sharma for her controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad.

With the entire country taking note of the growing protests across the country, Ahmed Bukhari, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid in New Delhi, clarified that he was unaware of any calls for protest.

The Shahi Imam, speaking to India Today, said the protests, which erupted outside Jama Masjid, were sudden and staged by ‘outsiders’.

“Suddenly, after Namaz, slogans started being raised at Jama Masjid Chowk, that is, at gate No. 1. I do not even know that there was any call (for protests), certainly not by the Jama Masjid. I don’t know who these people are, the police should investigate,” Bukhari told the news channel.

People held up placards and shouted slogans against former BJP spokesperson Nupur, who was suspended by the saffron party earlier this week, days after she made objectional comments during a TV debate on Gyanvapi mosque.

“No one knew, I think even the police did not know that there was going to be a demonstration. Yesterday, some people definitely wanted a shutdown in Delhi but everyone refused. But there had been several calls for protest doing the rounds on social media,” said Bukhari.

There were protests against Nupur’s comment in several cities, like Ranchi, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Saharanpur, Kolkata, Howrah and Moradabad.

In Ranchi, a curfew had to be imposed in some parts of the city after some policemen were injured while trying to control an irate mob near Hanuman Temple.

In Howrah, demonstrations set fire to tyres and pelted stones at policemen, who had to resort to firing tear gas shells. A number of local and long-distance trains were held up.